dar334

Today is Ash Wednesday.  Today is the first day of Lent.  Today is Valentine’s Day.

Today I saw the face of a young man that lost his dad unexpectedly last week; both men too young.  Today I saw the face of a young man that seemed somehow defeated.  Somehow lost.  When he walked in the office the same old cliches came to mind.  “I’m sorry about your Dad.”  “I’m sorry for your loss.”  “How are you doing?”  None of them fit. I couldn’t say any of them.  I wanted to hug him.  He’s a good man.  I could have said “I’m sure your Dad was proud of you.”  I simply said “I feel like I should say something but I don’t know what that something is.  Just know I’ve been praying for you and your family.”  He thanked me.  Then he walked out of my office with that same look of loss.  Of defeat.

Today my heart is heavy.

As the Lenten season begins, our time for fasting and prayer, I ask that if you reading this right now, you say a prayer for those who have recently lost loved ones, those that will start the season without the loved one that was with them last year.  Pray that they can somehow find peace.

Thank you.

-dar